A Study of the Quantitative Effects of Ethynyl Testosterone upon the Sword and Gonopodium of Xiphophorus Hellerii

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
When treated with ethynyl testosterone soln., ranging from 1 mg./40,000 ml. of water to 1 mg./3,000,000 ml. of water, [female] [female] of the viviparous Poeciliid fish Xiphophorus develop anal and caudal fins typical of [male] [male]. The higher the concn. of hormone, the earlier is the development of the gonopodium and sword. [male] [male] treated with ethynyl testosterone solns. ranging from 1 mg./20,000 ml. of water to 1 mg./3,000,000 ml. of water, show a similar but more accelerated growth response because of the added hormone supplied by the testis. Tissue susceptibility of the gonopodium is much greater than the tissue susceptibility of the sword to the stimulating effects of ethynyl testosterone. Ethynyl testosterone concn. sufficient to terminalize growth of the gonopodium are not sufficient to produce maximal growth of the sword.